Motherboard Volt Reg or Power Supply?

[StealthyFish]

http://img299.imageshack.us/my.php?...monitors6jp.jpg

Hey, I purchased an XClio 450BL becuase everyone had said it was really stable, but from what i've seen so far, it's been a little off, atleast on the VCore voltages, It ranges from 1.54 to 1.43V. Is it my regulator on my motherboard or what? I"ve got a p5LD2. Here is a screen of my voltages.

http://img299.imageshack.us/my.php?...monitors6jp.jpg

[Grandtete]

Argh, read the stickies...especially this one:

http://forums.extremeoverclocking.co...d.php?t=137886

[jonnyGURU]

Originally Posted by Grandtete

Argh, read the stickies...especially this one:

http://forums.extremeoverclocking.co...d.php?t=137886

You can't test Vcore with a DMM.

Well.... you can if you know where on the motherboard to put the DMM leads.

[Grandtete]

True heh, but its normally quite easy to figure out where any test points are.
Still, one has to be careful when the probe is held on the point. (gnd the otherone)

Still, i'll read the posts more carefully in the future

[larrymoencurly]

Originally Posted by jonnyGURU

You can't test Vcore with a DMM.

Well.... you can if you know where on the motherboard to put the DMM leads.

I look near the DIMM sockets for a 3-pin device that resembles a MOSFET, although it may be quite a bit smaller. It's usually warm because it's a linear regulator, and the DIMM voltage is on one of its pins.

[jonnyGURU]

Ok... But what about CPU Vcore since that's what the OP is talking about.

[larrymoencurly]

Originally Posted by jonnyGURU

Ok... But what about CPU Vcore since that's what the OP is talking about.

I misread "DMM" as "DIMM"

CPU Vcore is on at least one of the MOSFETs or Schottkys next to the donut coils around the CPU socket. They measure either close to the +5V or +12V, 0V, or almost exactly Vcore (not always exactly Vcore because there may be a current sensing resistor in some protection circuitry).

[Josie Wales]

Originally Posted by StealthyFish

Hey, I purchased an XClio 450BL becuase everyone had said it was really stable, but from what i've seen so far, it's been a little off, atleast on the VCore voltages, It ranges from 1.54 to 1.43V. Is it my regulator on my motherboard or what? I"ve got a p5LD2. Here is a screen of my voltages.

As the system load varies there will always be some fluctuation in both the PSU voltages and Vcore. Both components play a role in stability as the motherboard essentially acts as a second PSU and re-regulates the input voltages. The question becomes "How much fluctuation is acceptable?" This is where the debate begins. I think your fluctuations are reasonable and well within the acceptable range. It is rather rare to see Vcore so stable that it fluctuates less than 0.1V on any motherboard.